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Abstract:

A wiper blade for cleaning windows of motor vehicles, with an adapter for
fastening the wiper blade on a wiper arm, wherein the adapter consists of
an adapter element on the wiper arm side and of an adapter element on the
wiper blade side, which are arranged so as to be pivotable with respect
to each other, and wherein the adapter element on the wiper arm side is
connected together with the wiper arm via a detent connection. Provision
is made that the adapter has at least one support surface for an
auxiliary element, which serves for separating the adapter from the wiper
arm.

Claims:

1-10. (canceled)

11. Wiper blade for cleaning windows of motor vehicles, with an adapter
for fastening the wiper blade on a wiper arm, wherein the adapter
consists of an adapter element; on a wiper arm side and of an adapter
element on a wiper blade side, which are arranged so as to be pivotable
with respect to each other, wherein the adapter element on the wiper
blade side is connected together with the wiper arm via a detent
connection, and wherein the adapter has at least one support surface for
an auxiliary element, which serves for separating the adapter from the
wiper arm.

12. Wiper blade according to claim 11, wherein the at least one support
surface is arranged in the region of an end face of the adapter and is
constructed as a flat surface.

13. Wiper blade according to claim 11, wherein the at least one support
surface is constructed in the form of a toothing, into which a
counter-toothing of the auxiliary element rolls.

14. Wiper blade according to claim 11, wherein the at least one support
surface is constructed as an axis, into which the auxiliary element
engages in a form-fitting manner.

15. Wiper blade according to claim 11, wherein the at least one support
surface is arranged on the adapter element on the wiper blade side.

16. Wiper blade according to claim 11, wherein the adapter element on the
wiper blade side has at least a first connection for the supply of a
washing fluid, which first connection cooperates with a second connection
arranged in the wiper arm, and wherein the first and second connections
are arranged so as to be able to be coupled and respectively released by
a linear movement.

17. Wiper blade according to claim 16, wherein an additional electrical
connecting plug for a heating arrangement is arranged in the adapter
element on the wiper arm side, which cooperates with a mating plug
arranged in the wiper arm, and wherein the connecting plug and the mating
plug are able to be coupled and respectively released by a linear
movement.

18. Wiper arm for connecting with a wiper blade according to claims 11,
wherein the wiper arm is releasably connected with the wiper blade via a
detent connection, and wherein the auxiliary element is constructed as a
pivoted lever which is pivotably mounted on the wiper arm and which, with
a contact element for removing the wiper blade from the wiper arm, is
arranged in operative connection with the at least one support surface.

19. Wiper arm according to claim 18, wherein the pivoted lever is
constructed as a gear with a power transmission.

20. Wiper arm according to claim 18, wherein the pivoted lever is able to
be locked in its one end position with the wiper arm or with the wiper
blade.

Description:

BACKGROUND

Prior Art

[0001] The invention relates to a wiper blade for cleaning windows of
motor vehicles in accordance with the introductory clause of Claim 1. The
invention further relates to a wiper arm for connection with a wiper
blade according to the invention in accordance with the introductory
clause of the independent claim.

[0002] A wiper blade according to the introductory clause of Claim 1 is
known from DE 10 2008 021 457 A1 of the applicant. The wiper blade is
connected with the wiper arm via an adapter so as to be lockable or
respectively releasable. Furthermore, the wiper blade has ducts for
supply with a washing fluid, which are connected via at least one hose
line, guided or respectively arranged in the wiper arm, with a storage
container for the washing fluid. The connection of the at least one hose
line in the wiper arm to the adapter in the wiper blade takes place here
in practice by means of a connection fixedly arranged in the wiper arm,
which on mounting of the wiper blade on the wiper arm is coupled with the
connections for the washing fluid which are arranged in the adapter.

[0003] Furthermore, wiper blades are already known from the patent
literature, which in addition to the mentioned possibility of supplying
the wiper blade with washing fluid, are constructed as heatable wiper
blades, wherein in the adapter of the wiper blade a connecting plug is
arranged, which is contacted electrically with a mating plug arranged in
the wiper arm. Here, also, the coupling of the two plugs takes place by
reciprocal moving of the adapter or respectively of the wiper blade to
the wiper arm.

[0004] The mentioned hydraulic and electrical connections with the sealing
measures which are necessary for this have the result that on changing a
wiper blade, the connections must be released from each other axially,
which owing to the sealing measures entails a relatively great
expenditure of force. This makes the change difficult, in particular in
the case of persons who have not expected this relatively great
expenditure of force and hence assume that there is defect in the wiper
arm or respectively wiper blade.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Proceeding from the illustrated prior art, the invention is based
on the problem of further developing a wiper blade for cleaning windows
of motor vehicles in accordance with the introductory clause of Claim 1
such that it is suited to making possible a simplified dismantling of the
wiper blade and, if applicable, a simplified mounting from or
respectively on the wiper arm. This problem is solved in a wiper blade
for cleaning windows of motor vehicles with the features of Claim 1. The
invention is based here on the idea, through the provision of at least
one support surface on the adapter of the wiper blade, of forming an
engagement surface for an auxiliary element, which serves for the
separating of the adapter from the wiper arm. In particular, the said
auxiliary element can serve to distinctly reduce the dismantling force
necessary for releasing the wiper blade from the wiper arm.

[0006] Advantageous further developments of the wiper blade according to
the invention for cleaning windows of motor vehicles are indicated in the
subclaims. All combinations of at least two of the features disclosed in
the claims, in the description and/or in the figures fall within the
scope of the invention.

[0007] In a first structural implementation of the invention, it is
proposed that the support surface is arranged in the region of an end
face of the adapter and is constructed as a flat surface. Such an
arrangement or construction requires a minimal additional manufacturing
expenditure for the adapter and is particularly space-saving, so that the
overall size of the adapter does not change substantially.

[0008] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, provision is made
that the support surface is constructed in the form of a toothing, into
which a counter-toothing of the auxiliary element rolls. Such a
construction has particularly low friction or respectively has a
particularly low wear on the support surfaces.

[0009] In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, provision is
made that the support surface is constructed as an axis, into which the
auxiliary element engages in a form-fitting manner. Such an embodiment
also has particular low friction and low wear.

[0010] In a further structural embodiment, it is proposed that the at
least one support surface is arranged on the adapter element on the wiper
blade side. This makes it possible that in the operating position of the
wiper blade, in which the wiper blade lies in particular against the
window of the motor vehicle, the auxiliary element is not arranged in
engagement or respectively in operative connection with the adapter.
Rather, the auxiliary element which is arranged on the wiper arm only
cooperates with the adapter when the adapter element on the wiper blade
side is pivoted to the adapter element on the wiper arm side, wherein
this pivoting is known to the operator as the dismantling position.

[0011] The invention also comprises a wiper arm for connecting with a
wiper blade according to the invention, wherein the wiper arm is
releasably connected with the wiper blade via a detent connection. Here,
provision is made according to the invention that the auxiliary element
is constructed as a pivoted lever which is pivotably mounted on the wiper
arm and which, with a contact element for removing the wiper blade from
the wiper arm is arranged in operative connection with the at least one
support surface.

[0012] It is quite particularly preferred here if the pivoted lever is
constructed as a gear with a power transmission. Thereby, the dismantling
forces for releasing the wiper blade from the wiper arm are reduced in a
desired manner.

[0013] In order to avoid an unintentional actuating of the pivoted lever,
in particular in the operating position of the wiper blade, it is,
furthermore, particularly advantageous if the pivoted lever in its one
end position, which in particular corresponds to the operating position
of the wiper arm, is able to be locked with the wiper arm or with the
wiper blade.

[0014] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will
emerge from the following description of preferred example embodiments
and with the aid of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 a perspective view of a wiper device consisting of a wiper
blade and a wiper arm,

[0016]FIG. 2 an adapter, used with the wiper blade according to FIG. 1,
in individual representation in context with the end region of the wiper
arm in a position distant from each other, in perspective view,

[0017]FIG. 3 an illustration, partially in section, of the parts
according to FIG. 2 to illustrate the hydraulic connection between
adapter and wiper arm,

[0018]FIG. 4 a pivoted lever for releasing the wiper blade from the wiper
arm in a perspective individual representation,

[0019]FIG. 5 a longitudinal section in the region of the adapter in the
operating position of the wiper blade to illustrate the arrangement of
pivoted lever and adapter,

[0020]FIG. 6 a simplified illustration of an alternative embodiment of
the pivoted lever with a toothing in side view and

[0021]FIG. 7 a further alternative embodiment of the invention, in which
the pivoted lever cooperates with the adapter of the wiper blade via a
bent lever.

[0022] Identical components or respectively components having an identical
function are provided with the same reference numbers in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0023] In FIG. 1 a wiper arm 1 and a wiper blade 10 of a wiper device 100
are illustrated, as they serve for cleaning windows of motor vehicles.

[0024] The wiper device 100 comprises in a conventional manner a bearing
element 3, connected via a wiper arm joint 2, which bearing element is
mounted in a torque-proof and pivotable manner in an axis of a windscreen
wiper drive which is not illustrated. The wiper arm 1 has at its end
lying opposite the bearing element 3 a U-shaped cross-section, which
serves for fastening the wiper blade 10 via an adapter 11 arranged on the
wiper blade 10. Here, in the connecting region with the adapter 11 the
wiper arm 1 has an opening 4, into which a lever 12, arranged on the
adapter 11, engages in a form-fitting manner in the operating position of
the wiper device 100 with its detent section 13 (see FIG. 2). The opening
4 therefore forms together with the detent section 13 a detent connection
between the wiper arm 1 and the wiper blade 10, which serves for securing
the wiper blade 10 on the wiper arm 1 on operation of the wiper device
100.

[0025] In addition, with the aid of FIG. 1 at least one hose line 6 can be
seen for the supply of washing fluid to the wiper blade 10. The hose line
6 is connected here on the one hand with a washing medium storage
container of the motor vehicle, and on the other hand with a hydraulic
connecting piece 14 which can be seen in FIG. 3, wherein the hydraulic
connecting piece 14 is arranged fixedly in the wiper arm 1 via a holder
15.

[0026] Optionally, provision can be made that additionally or else
alternatively to the hose line 6, an electric connecting line is provided
for the wiper blade 10, via which a heating device, which is not
illustrated, in particular in the form of a heating foil, arranged in the
wiper blade 10, is supplied with current. Such an electrical connecting
line has a first electric connecting plug here, which in analogy to the
hydraulic connecting piece 14 is arranged in the holder 15.

[0027] As can be seen in particular with the aid of FIG. 2, the adapter 11
of the wiper blade 10 consists of an adapter element 16 on the wiper
blade side and of an adapter element 17 on the wiper arm side, which are
arranged so as to be pivotable with respect to each other in a rotation
axis 18. In addition, on the adapter element 16 on the wiper blade side,
connecting pieces 19 can be seen for supplying the wiper blade 10 with
the washing fluid. It can be seen in FIG. 3 that the connecting pieces 19
are connected via two further connecting pieces 20 with a hose line 21,
which in turn is coupled with a hydraulic mating plug 22. The hydraulic
mating plug 22, which carries a seal 23 on its outer periphery, by
insertion into the hydraulic connecting piece 14 is able to be connected
with the latter hydraulically. The connecting or respectively separating
of the hydraulic connecting piece 16 with or respectively from the
hydraulic mating plug 22 takes place here in the direction of the double
arrow 24, wherein the alignment of the double arrow 24 corresponds to the
mounting or respectively dismantling direction of the wiper blade 10 with
respect to the wiper arm 1.

[0028] As can best be seen from viewing FIGS. 2 to 5 together, an
auxiliary element for releasing the wiper arm 1 from the wiper blade 10
is arranged on the wiper arm 1. The auxiliary element is constructed here
as a pivoted lever 25, which engages via two pin-like extensions (see
FIG. 4), of which only one extension 26 can be seen in FIG. 4, into
corresponding openings or respectively bores of the wiper arm 1. The
extensions 26 form at the same time the pivot axis of the pivoted lever
25. The pivoted lever 25 has two pivot arms 27, 28, which are arranged
parallel to each other, and which on the side facing away from the
extensions 26 lead into a shared hand grip 29, constructed in a curved
shape, able to be grasped by an operator. On the side of the extensions
26 lying opposite the hand grip 29, the two pivot arms 27, 28 have short,
bent, lever sections 30, 31.

[0029] In addition, with the aid of FIG. 2 it can be seen that the adapter
element 17 on the wiper blade side has two flat support surfaces 33 on
its end face facing the wiper arm 1, of which only one support surface 33
can be seen in FIG. 2. The support surface 33 is arranged or respectively
formed here in the manner of an extension on the side face 34 of the
adapter element 16 on the wiper blade side.

[0030] In the operating position of the wiper device 100, in which the
wiper arm 1 is connected with the wiper blade 10, the pivoted lever 25
locked or respectively secured in accordance with FIG. 5 with the adapter
element 17 on the wiper arm side in the region of the one end edge 35.
Furthermore, with the aid of FIG. 5 it can be seen that a distance a is
formed between the lever sections 30, 31 and the support surface 33. It
is thereby possible that the adapter element 16 on the wiper blade side
is pivotable to the adapter element 17 on the wiper arm side about a
certain angle amount, in order to make possible an adaptation of the
position of the wiper blade 10 in particular to the vehicle window on the
operation of the wiper device 100.

[0031] To release the wiper blade 10 from the wiper arm 1, and hence also
the mechanical connection between the hydraulic connecting piece 14 and
the hydraulic mating plug 22, the wiper arm 1, together with the adapter
element 17 on the wiper arm side, must be brought into the pivoted
position illustrated in FIG. 2 with respect to the adapter element 16 on
the wiper blade side or respectively to the remaining wiper blade 10. The
pivoted lever 25 is then pivoted in accordance with the arrow 36,
whereupon the lever sections 30, 31 arrive in operative connection with
the support surfaces 33 on the adapter element 16 on the wiper blade side
and in so doing press the adapter 11 axially out from the wiper arm 1 or
respectively from the mount on the wiper arm 1. It is essential here in
addition that this releasing is only possible when simultaneously the
detent section 13 of the lever 12 is pressed downwards into the opening
4.

[0032] In FIG. 6 an alternative embodiment is illustrated of the pivoted
lever 25a and of the wiper blade 10 in the region of the adapter element
16a on the wiper blade side, in which in addition the necessary mounting
forces of the wiper blade 10 on the wiper arm 1 can be reduced. Here, the
pivoted lever 25a is mounted in a rotation axis 37, wherein the pivoted
lever 25a is constructed in the region of the rotation axis 37 in the
form of a toothed wheel 38 with teeth 39. The teeth 39 engage into a
support surface constructed as a toothing profile 41 of the adapter
element 16a on the wiper blade side. By pivoting the pivoted lever 25a in
the direction of the arrow 42, the teeth 39 roll in the toothing profile
41 and in so doing move the adapter element 16a on the wiper blade side
in the direction of the arrow 43.

[0033] In FIG. 7 a further embodiment of the invention is illustrated, in
which likewise, in addition to the reducing of the dismantling forces,
the mounting forces for mounting the wiper blade 10 on the wiper arm 1
can be reduced. Here, the pivoted lever 25b is mounted in an axis 44 in
the wiper arm 1. At a distance from the axis 44, on the pivot arms 27b,
28b bent levers 46, 47 are arranged, the end of which, facing away from
the pivot arms 27b, 28b, engages into a transverse axis 49 arranged in
the adapter element 16b on the wiper blade side, acting as a support
surface. By pivoting the pivoted lever 25b in the direction of the arrow
52, the adapter element 16b on the wiper blade side is moved in the
direction of the arrow 54, whereby likewise the hydraulic connecting
piece 14 is separated from the hydraulic mating piece 22 (both not
illustrated). In FIG. 7, in addition to the illustrated intermediate
position of the pivoted lever 25b, the end position of the pivoted lever
25b is illustrated, in which the latter is aligned horizontally with the
wiper blade 10. This end position corresponds to the operating position
of the wiper blade 10.

[0034] The wiper blade 10 described so far, or respectively the pivoted
levers 25, 25a and 25b, can be altered or respectively modified in a
variety of ways, without deviating from the idea of the invention.
However, it is essential that the pivoted lever 25, 25a, 25b in the form
of a gear makes possible a power transmission for an operator, so that at
least the necessary dismantling force for releasing the wiper blade 10
from the wiper arm 1 is reduced.